Fearns Brass Foundry

Don't Change It / John White

Decca : F 12721

Help

This auction has ended.

Listen Now

Detail

  • Artist: Fearns Brass Foundry
  • A Side: Don't Change It
  • B Side: John White
  • Label: Decca
  • Format: 45s

Condition

Condition

  • Vinyl Condition: E+
  • Label Condition: M-
  • Sleeve Condition: E+

Key: View

Description


Description

The highly regarded 1968 British Northern Soul gathering up a huge local Leicestershire reputation through the decades, now becoming universal on the back of this great MOD/NS dancer..

Hailing from Leicestershire, Fearns Brass Foundry were renowned for their authoritative stage presence, their bludgeoning brass, crisp harmony vocals. Pumping out R&B/Soul recordings, led by Steve Fearn's rich vocal.
The residents of Blaby, Leicestershire must have dreaded Thursday evenings as this band plied their trade in Soul Sounds, live at Blaby's Working Mens Club, where they amassed a serious enthusiastic fan-base.

Both sides written by their founder Steve Fearn who's taste for Soul is evident on both sides, with the A-side ticking all the boxes, for "Chapter 5" styled Northern Soul play, which it is currently receiving.

Signature FBF blasting brass kicks it all off, insistent percussion smacks out the dance rhythm, timely horn breaks add to it's pedigree; with the rest of 6 man team chanting shrill "Hey, Hey, Hey" you have an awesome tune that is so very British. Shimmering with all that late 60's inspiration, garnered from the likes of Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band, Jimmy James & The Vagabonds, The Senate, The Action etc. who had already laid down the guidelines for standout British-Dance-Soul a few years earlier.

In recent times, this is a recording that the Northern Soul has rediscovered through it's equally rare USA London release, credited as Fearns Foundry, erroneously appearing in record guides as a single artist "Foundary, Fearns". So it seems there is gap in the knowledge of referencing book authors about this lively band, outside of Leicestershire.

Here is their UK Decca release that only sold locally to the "Blaby" Thursday night trippers, consequently today, this is a hard disc to find in clean condition..

Take a listen to that strapping lead vocal, the mountain of brass and backing vocal harmonies, you can easily imagine a Thursday night Working Mens Club in 1968 absolutely jumping to this bludgeoning sound...

The flipside "John White" is also worth a spin, a MOD beat tune typifying the era.

Condition Report

Two clean labels, a & b-side vinyl reveals only merest soft surface hairlines, as you can hear it plays totally clean. Housed in correct company cover, plays crisp and clear.

A Side

  • Title: Don't Change It

    B Side

  • Title: John White
  • Year: January 5th 1968
  • City: Blaby, Leicestershire, United Kingdom

    Tracklisting